Disclaimer: All characters and settings from Dark Angel belong solely to their creator, which is most definitely not me, I'm just playing around.

Authors Note: Thank you to all readers particularly those who have submitted a review or added this story to their alerts or favourites. I really appreciate it. Updates may not be as quick or as long as I want for the foreseeable future as my brother is currently in hospital so I don't have as much time.


Chapter 2 : Two Months Later

Lydecker was scanning the progress report on Max as Elizabeth Renfro made her way uninvited into his office. "It's been two months now Deck, and 452's showing no signs that she can be successfully re-indoctrinated. Especially considering 734 is already well on her way to becoming ours again." Renfro said to him with a sneer or her face.

"734 was already weakened because of the progeria, plus she requested to come back. 452 was always more stubborn. She just needs time and then she'll be back to us too." Deck replied to her.

"Very well, you have one month if there's no progress we call time on her and use her body for spare parts." Renfro said as she exited the room.

"Max" Deck whispered to himself as soon as Renfro was out of earshot. Picking up the phone on his desk he buzzed the guards. "Bring 494to my office immediately."


Logan glanced quickly at the tall blonde X5 who stood staring over his shoulders at the video screen. It was hard to believe it was only two months ago that he last saw Max. She'd convinced him to help her attend that genetics conference, and then vanished. Rachel Glasser her covers name was among the deceased, but the body matching the name certainly wasn't Max.

Only one week later he'd been surprised when her brother Zack showed up on his doorstep bleeding alongside Kendra.

Flashback

Logan was on his computer as he tried to figure out where the footage from the conference and the surrounding areas had gone, as he heard the doorbell ring. Pushing away from his desk he made his way towards the door just as Bling answered the door. Standing there he recognised Max's roommate Kendra, who was trying to hold up a large blonde man who was almost twice her size.

With Bling's assistance they managed to lay him down on the table, where Bling quickly went to work on healing the man's wounds. "Care to explain?" Logan asked Kendra taking in the blonde's dishevelled form.

"When I got back to the apartment tonight I found the window broken, and this guy grabbed hold of me. He demanded to see Max. When I told him she'd gone he didn't believe me because her bike was there. He tightened his hold so much I thought he'd break my wrist. He said he was her brother. I didn't know what else to do, so I told him I'd take him to a friend of hers. I'm sorry I was so scared especially when I saw the gun he was carrying." Kendra finished as tears started to pour down her face.

"The bathrooms through there I'll go and check on him and Bling."Logan said as he made his way back to the room just in time to see the man's hand grab hold of Bling's wrist."You need to calm done so we can help you. I'm Logan, a friend of Max's. Once we get you healed up I'll tell you all I know about her disappearance." Logan said to the blonde man.

He seemed to watch Logan for a few minutes as if he was assessing him for danger before finally nodding his head and dropping back down completely onto the table. "I'm Zack" he muttered so quietly that Logan almost had to strain to hear what was said.

End Flashback

After that they'd been working at a common goal. First trying to save Brin who chose to return to Manticore, and then trying to discover what happened to Max. Tonight they'd finally gotten hold of the footage from the conference. His thoughts were soon interrupted by the blonde X5's voice. "There zoom in" Logan quickly did as was asked for him. "A tranquiliser dart, Lydecker must have made her and called his team in. That's why they were there. She's gone too just like Brin."

"What do you mean?" Logan asked him his voice full of confusion. After all this time Zack was just going to give up on her.

"They've had her for the past two months. She won't be Max anymore they'll have re-indoctrinated her. There's nothing we can do for her now." With that Zack grabbed his leather jacket and vanished out the door.

"Max" Logan whispered as he realised there was nothing more he could do for her just now.


X5-494 was lying quietly on his bunk when one of the guards opened his cell door and ordered him to Colonel Lydecker's office. He instantly started to rack his brain to figure out why he'd be called for. Ever since the Berrisford mission had gone south he's made sure to act the perfect soldier. Even though he'd been demoted from solo missions to platoon status and thrown into a ragtag unit. It didn't help that he could easily take out his new CO and SIC.

Once they reached the Colonel's office doors he knocked and entered when he heard the Colonel order him to come in. Once in the room he stood in the centre at attention while the Colonel sat behind his desk going over some files.

"At ease 494" Lydecker finally said after a few minutes had passed. "I've been reviewing files, and have decided to give you another chance to prove yourself. The mission you are to be given is different from any you have experienced in the past. As I'm sure you have figured out X5-452 was brought into this facility two months ago after being on the outside for 10 years. So far she has been unresponsive to all attempts at re-indoctrination. Your mission is to assist the re-indoctrination process, by gaining her trust. We need her back 494 and Madame Renfro will only allow us one more month to see some progress. If you succeed you will be rewarded with command over your own unit which you can select from every unit within Manticore. I don't need to tell you what will happen if you should fail 494." With that Deck threw a file down in front of the X5. "This is all the information we have on 452 and her previous unit. I suggest you study it carefully. Dismissed."

494 saluted quickly before picking up the file from the Colonel's desk and exiting the office. Well shit, how in the hell am I going to pull this one off. 494 thought as he made his way back towards his cell for the night.


Max could feel every muscle in her body protest as the guards dragged her limp and beaten body back towards her cell after yet another Psy-ops session. She didn't even know how long it had been since she was captured. So many days seemed to blend into each other as they kept trying to break her over and over again. So far they hadn't succeeded. Although she knew it was only a matter of time. Already memories were starting to vanish from her. She was fighting every single second to keep hold of who she was. Maybe it would be easier if I just gave in and let them win. That small voice in the back of her head said to her. It'd been saying the same thing every time she had a moment to think. At first it was little more than a whisper, but as time passed it was becoming stronger and stronger. Soon it would overpower her own voice, and then the real her would be gone. Somehow she had to find away to get herself back after this.